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NEW YORK -- Edwin Encarnacion needed no further prompting when asked what the Blue Jays needed to most improve upon in the second half. "I think the starting pitching," he said. "If we want to win, we know and they know we need to pitch better." The numbers back up Encarnacions statement. Whats more, Encarnacions All-Star numbers give him the platform to offer an opinion few other position players could share. Toronto enters the break with the second-highest starters ERA in baseball. At 5.07, only Minnesotas (5.23) ranks worse. Pundits figured the Twins would have a poor rotation but R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle were supposed to be the backbone of a revamped Blue Jays rotation that would propel the club to its first playoff appearance in 20 years. Encarnacion is hitting .264/.345/.476. He has 25 home runs and his 67 since the start of 2012 are third most in baseball behind Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis. Hes a leader, respected not only in his own clubhouse but around the game. "We have the talent in the clubhouse and I know the pitchers can do better than theyve been doing," he said. "We just need to focus in the games and I know things are going to change." Jose Bautista, voted to New York City by the fans, pointed the finger at himself. "Were totally capable of playing a lot better baseball than weve shown," said Bautista. "We just need to play better as a team. Like I said earlier today, Im number one on that list. Ive been very inconsistent this year and I need to pick it up some and bring that consistency that I know I can bring to the table and bring more of a steady production and help the team win more games." Trade talk will intensify once the schedule resumes later in the week. The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is looming. Toronto has been linked to the Cubs Matt Garza, to the extent that scouts have been watching his starts, but general manager Alex Anthopoulos says he wont acquire a rental player. Garzas contract is expiring so he falls into the hands off category. Whether or not moves are made is irrelevant to at least one Blue Jays All-Star. "I would take the perspective of that (Alex) doesnt think we need to make a move because he thinks we can do it with what we have," said Brett Cecil. "Thats just me personally. I would hope all the guys, even without talks of trade or anything, would think that we could do it without any types of moves or anything like that and I would hope guys would take it that way if we didnt make a move." The Blue Jays are 45-49, in last place in the American League East, 11.5 games behind division-leading Boston. Toronto is 8.5 games behind Texas for the second American League wild card spot. BORAS TALKS PEDs In the wake of ESPN reports that Major League Baseball will seek to suspend as many as 20 players with alleged links to Biogensis, super agent Scott Boras put out the call for due process. "If we have positive analytical we have no issue," said Boras. "Now were in an area where weve got negative analytical and yet weve got circumstantial pursuit on non-analytical cases. That is in the rules, that is in the rules but it is causing a problem in the game. The problem is its affecting the masses that are innocent. Its affecting the integrity of the game and we have to look at that as to how we approach that. Do we allow the witch hunts? Do we allow the early speculation?" Among those with alleged links to Biogenesis, a now defunct Miami-based anti-aging clinic that peddled performance enhancing drugs, are the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukees Ryan Braun. Rodriguez is an admitted steroid user but he claims to have stopped after departing the Texas Rangers following the 2003 season. Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, tested positive for a banned substance shortly afterward but the case was thrown out when a judge ruled the samples chain of command had been compromised. Others, like Texas Nelson Cruz, have never had a positive test. CONFIDENCE IS KEY Cecil admitted to TSN.ca he lost confidence in himself during his trying seasons of 2011 and 2012. Its a fragile thing. "I think a lot of players would tell you that its not because they have all the confidence in the world in themselves," he said. "Sometimes its not necessarily the most truthful thing thats coming out of their mouths. I know as far as me, I mean I told you guys, 2011 and 2012 I still had all the confidence in the world but I really didnt, I really didnt." Prior to his scoreless inning in Baltimore on Saturday, Cecil had allowed runs in two consecutive appearances for the first time all season. He admitted, even then despite his brilliant year, his confidence began to waver. The difference now? Cecil trusts his repertoire. "Back in 2011, 2012, even when I had a good outing I still didnt know if my stuff was good enough to play up here and when I got knocked around I really didnt think it was good enough to play up here," he said. "After the last two outings I know my stuff plays up here and its just a matter of how Im going to deal with the little things that I did wrong and how am I going to take it into my next outing." MUTUAL RESPECT AMONGST VOTTO AND ENCARNACION Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Votto were teammates with the Cincinnati Reds from 2007-2009. Votto, Toronto born and raised, had high praise for an old friend. "Edwin was one of my favourite teammates," said Votto. "Actually, whenever we made the trade for Scott Rolen, for the first month or so whenever Scott would start chirping at me I would tell him how much I miss Edwin. You know, I really miss Edwin, I wish we wouldnt have made that trade, Scott. Im very fond of him and Im really, really happy for his success and I hope he keeps it up because its fun watching him on the highlights hit all of those home runs." "He loved the way I acted," said Encarnacion, whose outgoing personality runs counter to Vottos more reserved countenance. "He loved it. We enjoyed all moments when I was there in Cincinnati with my old team." TAKING IT ALL IN Four-year-old Edwin Encarnacion Jr. was sitting on dads lap during the afternoon media availability session. Each player is seated at his own podium and the assembled media can wander at their leisure. Young Edwin was a trooper. The session was held in the open air of the concourse inside the home plate entrance to Citi Field. With a humidex reading outside of close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and hundreds of bodies roaming a confined space, it got a little warm. Brett Cecil was looking most forward to having his three-year-old son, Bryton, on the field with him during the home run derby. Steve Delabar had pictures taken with family members including his wife, infant daughter, parents and in-laws, all of whom traveled to New York to share his first time All-Star experience.Tremaine Edmunds Womens Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Andre Roberts Jersey . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Andre-Reed-Bills-Jersey/ . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Bruce Smith Youth Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Cody Ford Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Von Miller wont complain to the officials when hes getting grabbed, mugged or slugged on just about every snap these days. He wont lobby for statistics, either.So, the Broncos star pass rusher shrugged it off when the NFL failed to credit him with a sack last weekend that sealed Denvers 20-10 win at Jacksonville.I had already put it to bed on Monday. I wasnt going to beat myself up about it, Miller said. We won the game. When you turn on the film, youll be able to see what exactly happened.The NFL did just that and the league belatedly credited Miller with a strip-sack this week, which boosted his league-leading sack total to 13 1/2.Miller forced two turnovers in the game despite constant attention from the Jaguars.Ive never seen a guy double-teamed as much as he was last game, Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Thursday. It was phenomenal. I was talking to their coaches after the game and they said that they werent going to let him be the difference -- he WAS the difference. That tells you how good he is.They double-teamed him every pass play, at least two guys and sometimes three. Hes an amazing player.Miller shoved tackle Jeremy Parnell into quarterback Blake Bortles, forcing the ball free . Linebacker Shane Ray recovered the fumble at the Jaguars 29 with 1:27 remaining.Miller also shoved tackle Kelvin Beachum into Bortles on Bradley Robys pick-6 in the third quarter.Miller has followed up his Super Bowl MVP performance and record-breaking contract with another stellar season that has him as a favorite to win the leagues Defensive Player of the Year award.What separates him from the likes of Khalil Mack of the Raiders is that Miller faces constant waves of blockers, a sign of respect for his talents.I want to make plays. Im not looking for respect, Miller cracked. Im trying to make playys.dddddddddddd Its frustrating, but I never get caught up into it. I just try to get the opportunities that I do get. I need to make it happen. I beat myself up about this because when I first came into the league nobody was really chipping me like that and my second year nobody was chipping me. I should have been taking advantage of those opportunities.Superstars get this kind of treatment.I really dont pay any mind to it, Miller said. LeBron James, they triple-team him and Steph Curry and Klay Matthews. Im not looking for respect. Im trying to make plays. It is what it is. Im trying to ruin the game and they dont want me to do it.The Broncos lead the league with three dozen sacks but their opponent Sunday, the Tennessee Titans (6-6) have allowed just half that total.Miller said his role doesnt change against a team such as the Titans who are committed to establishing a ground game behind their excellent backfield of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry and mobile QB Marcus Mariota.Youve got to understand what my role is, Miller said. Its not just rushing the passer. Its not just the run game. Its not just dropping in coverage and covering tight ends. My job is to make plays -- make big plays -- for my team. However I can make them: strip the ball, sacks, tackle for loss, PBUs (pass breakups), however I can get them, that is my responsibility.Every year at the beginning of the year, Coach, he has everybody stand up: `Whats your name? Whats your position? And every year I stand up: `Im Von Miller and I play defense. Like few ever have.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.orgm and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '